Southbury Audiology welcomed patients last week to its new office at 800 Main Street South.
The larger location replaces its old home in Pomperaug Office Park and makes room for a growing practice without losing its touch of personal care.
The waiting room features expansive glass windows with a view of Southbury Green, while private consulting rooms lie down a spacious hallway that could carry an echo.
Dr. Cathleen Alex founded the local practice in 1996; it was originally located about a mile and a half away along the same main artery of Southbury.
In 2015, Dr. Stephanie Bakewell joined the team, and by 2020, she and Dr. Alex became business partners.
This summer marks another milestone.
As of July 2025, Dr. Bakewell has taken over full ownership of the practice, while Dr. Alex remains on staff two days a week. She isn’t ready to retire, she says, and will continue to see patients part-time.
“Everything was serendipity, from the space becoming available, to [Dr. Bakewell] being ready to make the move to full ownership,” said Dr. Alex.
Dr. Bakewell, who is also an adjunct professor at Post University, echoed the need to expand, while maintaining the same, if not a better, level of care.
As an implant programming audiologist, Dr. Bakewell says she has had the pleasure of seeing people go from next to no understanding to being able to hold a conversation in a noisy restaurant.
“I still don’t have the magic wand that will cancel out the noise completely for people,” Dr. Bakewell explained. “But technology has come really far, and we get to offer people the most support possible.”
While hearing aids may not be the answer for everyone, advancements in technology have allowed them to become smaller yet more powerful.
“The hearing aid companies recognize the need for connectivity,” said Dr. Bakewell. “So a lot of them work through Bluetooth, and you can use it with your phone, program it, and control it through an app.”
The hearing specialists also emphasize that their work goes far beyond helping patients hear better. They note that hearing is closely tied to overall wellness, especially cardiovascular health.
“Your ears are extremely dependent on blood flow,” said Dr. Bakewell. “We can sometimes tell that there may be a cardiac issue before the cardiac issue is addressed.”
A first-time appointment at Southbury Audiology includes a brief conversation, followed by a comprehensive hearing evaluation. The trained audiologists counsel patients on different options for managing hearing loss, while answering any questions that may arise.
In Connecticut, state law requires a 30-day trial period for all hearing aids so that patients have adequate time to test them and return them if needed.
Altogether, Southbury Audiology employs three audiologists and four medical secretaries to keep them organized.
With nearly three decades of care in town, the team at Southbury Audiology invites patients of all ages to experience the newly expanded office at Suite 102, 800 Main Street South.
A pair of handicap-accessible parking spaces are located just steps from the door, with more information available at www.southburyaudiology.com
The Southbury Record 